To be eligible for the Promise Scholarship, students must be state residents and have graduated high school the previous spring. They must maintain a 2.5 GPA in college while remaining enrolled full-time.

Those who take advantage of the scholarships are also required to live, work, or continue their education in Rhode Island after graduation. The specifics of this policy will be developed by the college, according to the legislation. New York has a similar requirement.

The Community College of Rhode Island expects an uptick in enrollment of first-time students next year by at least 200 because of the program. It estimates that between 1,200 and 1,300 students will receive the scholarship this fall.

Most of the college's 15,000 students are excluded because they are enrolled part time or aren't recent high school graduates.

Full-time tuition for in-state residents currently costs $2,074 per semester. The scholarship will also cover the mandatory $208 fee charged to students each semester.

The Promise Scholarship will kick in after students use other need-based grants they might receive to cover the remaining cost.

Tennessee began its tuition-free program in 2015 in a similar way -- for recent high school graduates only. But it will expand the scholarship next year, making all adults eligible.

In Oregon, the program launched in 2016 and only recent high school grads are eligible. Because of a state budget shortfall, the state was forced to limit eligibility further. Starting this fall, students from high-income families will be excluded.